The German A1 exam for family reunification
A spouse visa application asks for proof of 'basic German' at A1. Where you sit the exam matters as much as passing it; the exam itself is four short sections and is won by habit rather than knowledge.
Last updated: 2026-09-14
To join a spouse living in Germany you normally have to prove German at level A1 of the European framework. That does not mean fluency: introducing yourself, asking and answering simple questions, filling in a short form and understanding the most basic everyday expressions is enough.
Most applicants wrestle with two questions at once: 'whose certificate is accepted' and 'what is in the exam'. This guide separates them. The certificate question depends on the country and must be checked against an official source; the exam question has the same answer everywhere and can be studied.
Which certificate is accepted?
This page is information, not legal advice. Requirements change; check the website of the German mission you are applying to for the current, binding list.
The Federal Foreign Office's general rule: the A1 certificate must come from an examination provider certified to ALTE standards with a presence in the country. The general list names the Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD and TestDaF.
There is an important exception for Turkey. The family reunification page of the German missions in Turkey states: „Bei in der Türkei ausgestellten A1-Zertifikaten sind dies ausschließlich das Goethe-Institut „Start Deutsch 1“ und das Österreichische Sprachdiplom (ÖSD) „Grundstufe Deutsch 1“.“ — among A1 certificates issued in Turkey, only the Goethe-Institut and ÖSD are accepted. So you cannot sit telc A1 in Turkey and use that certificate for this application.
Missions also usually require a certificate whose exam date is not older than one year. Sitting the exam close to your visa application is the simplest way to avoid an 'expired' certificate.
The good news: at A1, 'Start Deutsch 1' is one exam developed jointly by the Goethe-Institut and telc. Sections, timing, item counts and scoring are identical; only the logo on the certificate differs. Studying in the telc format therefore prepares you for Goethe A1 just as well. ÖSD's A1 exam is a separate format; if you are sitting ÖSD, study its own model test too.
What is in the exam?
The A1 exam covers all four skills and is short: listening, reading and writing run back to back in one sitting; speaking is a separate session, usually held with a small group.
Listening has short dialogues with picture questions, announcements (true/false) and phone messages (multiple choice); the recording runs by itself and cannot be paused. Reading has short emails and notes, adverts and signs. In writing you first take details from a given text to fill in a form, then write a short message covering three points. In speaking you introduce yourself, spell your name and say a number; then ask and answer questions with cards and formulate a request.
Section timings, item counts and the pass mark are on the telc A1 page with their real values; that table is generated from the format itself.
Where points are most often lost
- Listening: because the recording does not stop, a candidate who misses one item gets stuck and misses the next. The fix is practising letting go.
- Spelling (buchstabieren): spelling your name with the German alphabet is a fixed task won by repetition, not knowledge. Two minutes a day is enough.
- A missing point in the message: leaving out one of the three given points costs a third of the content score. Covering all three beats writing at length.
- Numbers and times: dates, times, prices and phone numbers appear in every section and are what listeners miss most.
- Form details: name, date of birth and address are taken verbatim from the source text; look at the text instead of inventing them.
Exemptions
Exemptions depend on the individual case and on the authority's discretion. Ask the mission or an immigration lawyer about your own situation; the list below only summarises the commonly cited grounds.
- Spouse of an EU Blue Card holder: no language certificate is required.
- Cases of recognisably low integration need: for example a university degree together with a matching employment prospect.
- Illness or disability making it impossible to sit the exam.
- Hardship (Härtefall): where reaching A1 was impossible or unreasonable from the outset, or could not be reached after more than a year of serious effort.
- Nationals of certain countries, for whom the pre-entry language requirement does not apply.
An eight-week study plan
- Weeks 1–2: alphabet and pronunciation, numbers, introduction phrases. Write your self-introduction and rehearse it aloud every day.
- Weeks 3–4: everyday vocabulary (food, shopping, time, days) and simple sentences. Start writing short messages.
- Week 5: sit your first full mock exam with real timing. The goal is not to pass but to see where the time ran out.
- Week 6: go back to the weakest section. If it is listening, do ten minutes a day without rewinding.
- Week 7: work on speaking. Repeat introducing yourself, spelling, saying numbers and making requests until they come without thinking.
- Week 8: two more full mock exams. Comfortably above the threshold, book the exam; only just above it, give yourself another week.
Three common mistakes
First, sitting the exam with the wrong provider. Taking telc A1 in Turkey and putting it in the visa file wastes months of preparation; sit the exam at the Goethe-Institut or ÖSD.
Second, getting the certificate too early. A certificate older than a year is not accepted at most missions; plan the exam close to the application.
Third, leaving speaking until last. A candidate who scores well in writing but freezes in speaking loses the easiest points; speaking practice should start in week one.
Frequently asked questions
›Which German exam do I need for family reunification?
If you are applying from Turkey, the Goethe-Institut's 'Start Deutsch 1' or ÖSD's A1 exam: the German missions in Turkey accept only these two among A1 certificates issued in Turkey. From other countries, check your mission's list.
›I took telc A1 in Turkey. What now?
Your visa file needs a Goethe-Institut or ÖSD certificate. The good news is that the formats are identical, so you do not need to study again; you only need to sit the exam with the right provider.
›What is the A1 pass mark?
A set percentage of the total, with no minimum per section, so a loss in listening can be made up in reading. The exact figure is in the table on the telc A1 page.
›Does the certificate expire?
The certificate itself does not, but missions usually require an exam date no older than one year. Plan your application timeline around that.
›I know no German. How long does A1 take?
With regular study, two to four months is realistic for most people. What decides it is routine rather than total hours: short daily practice out loud, one full mock exam a week.
›Can I use a dictionary or an interpreter in the exam?
No. The exam is in German and no aids are allowed. Translated instructions exist only in preparation material.
Live the format before exam day
Sign up and take the free A1 mock exam; see today how the listening does not stop and how the time runs.